News & Events

Lukas (b. 2000) studied History at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2022–2025) and Art History at Ghent University (2018–2022). His research centers on the colonial history of Central Africa.

VACANCY for a doctoral researcher at the VUB (Social History of Capitalism research group) and Ghent University (History Department) in the FWO project “Blaming and Shaming by Ordinary Villagers: Rural Perspectives on Social Control in Flanders, c. 1400–1600”.

On Monday, 22 September, our colleague Jurriaan Wink successfully defended his PhD in Amsterdam.

Nel de Mûelenaere is Associate Professor of Contemporary History, holder of the chair Traces of Resistance , and head of the VUB history program. Her research focuses on the lived experience of the two World Wars in Belgium.

We’re pleased to announce that, starting in September 2025, Axel Van der Maelen will be joining SHOC as a TvO student.

As of 1 October, Mathijs Speecke (°1993, Roeselare) joins SHOC as a postdoctoral researcher.

Arne Vinck (°1994) is joining SHOC as a Talent-for-Research student. He obtained his Bachelor in Education (Secondary Education Dutch and History) at Arteveldehogeschool Gent in 2017.

We are proud to introduce The Foragers: Engagements Beyond the Human , a series of talks, screenings and an exhibition building bridges between arts and sciences.

Rhea Mertes obtained a Master’s degree in History at Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in 2025. During these studies, she developed a particular interest in social mobility in the late middle ages.

Noémi began her studies in History at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) in 2022. Her academic interests include socio-economic and migration history, with a particular focus on the Middle Ages.

In a new article in Economic History Review , Centre for Urban History and SHOC researcher Bas Spliet and Anne McCants measure the cost of the early modern consumer revolution.

As of 1 September, Bob Pierik will join VUB and the SHOC research group as an assistant professor of early modern history.   Bob's research focuses on the history of everyday life and urban space.

Smoky, dirty, unhealthy. That is how peat and coal were long perceived in the early modern period. So why did households start bringing them home, just as ideals of cleanliness and health were gaining ground?

From September 2025, Daan Huysman will be part of SHOC as a TVO student. Daan started his studies in History at the VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) in 2023.

It is with great pleasure that we announce the Call for Papers for the First International Conference of the Medieval Caucasus Network, entitled 'Studying Non-Elites in the Medieval Caucasus'. This will take place at Vrije Universiteit Brussel in Brussels, Belgium, on March 13th-14th 2026.

SHOC member Anna Derhaeg and co-author Kaat Wils (University of Leuven) have published a new article, based on Anna's Master's thesis.

Call for Papers Questionnaires in the History of Health and Medicine International Workshop 19-20 February 2026, Vrije Universiteit Brussel Deadline for abstract submission: 15 September 2025 We are delighted to announce a call for papers for a workshop focused on the historical...

As from 1 July, SHOC has a new colleague! Reinout Vander Hulst will be working closely together with Benoît Henriet on colonial history. Welcome to the team, Reinout!

On 23 June, SHOC had the honour of attending Rose Southard's PhD defence, "Biting the hand that Feeds. Contesting the Food Guilds in 18th-century Brussels". A successful - and engaging! defence , followed by a lovely reception: the ideal recipe for the start of a new chapter!

A new article by SHOC member Anne Winter and Thijs Lambrecht was recently published in Rural History. In their publication " Conspicuous charity and agrarian capitalism: Rural poor relief in Western Flanders c.